ORLANDO - What we’ve learned about Wendell Carter Jr. ever since he arrived in Orlando over two years ago is that his hard-working nature extends into the offseason, which explains why he’s made great progress each year with the Magic.
The same can be said about his involvement in the community.
It’s been almost two months since the Magic’s season ended, and yet the 6-foot-10 center is still doing all that he can to help people.
On Tuesday, May 30, Carter participated in a live streaming Mario Kart Relay Race video game event organized by AdventHealth Foundation Central Florida to raise money for cancer research.
Joining him were Orlando Solar Bears defenseman Jimmy Mazza, singer Cesar De La Rosa, local content creator and gamer Sceptic, several Magic Gaming players, AdventHealth doctors, and youth cancer patients.
“I’ve never been to an event like this,” he said. “It was a lot of fun being able to play a game like Mario Kart, which a lot of people if not everybody knows, just to raise awareness for a good cause. I don’t think it gets any better than that.”
The event, which aired live across multiple social media platforms, featured four teams competing to win the relay race and the fundraising goal. “Team Luigi,” with Mazza as their captain, came in first place. All funds raised support cancer research efforts in reducing relapses and potentially bringing cures through clinical trials and translational research.
“Having Magic Gaming, the Orlando Magic, and Orlando Solar Bears come together to support our patients and families for cancer research is really why this event happened,” AdventHealth Foundation Central Florida Marketing Manager Meredith Hall said. “It’s so impactful how our community is rallying around this cause to really put in an effort to make sure cancer is no more or there is better, unique ways to detect cancer. Just to have the support of our community, to make sure our patients are cared for in the right way close to home is really what this event is all about.”
As original Champion of the Community partners, AdventHealth Central Florida has been working with the Magic on community projects that impact and benefit Central Florida. Magic Champion of the Community partners represent organizations that are committed to improving the lives of all Central Floridians. Since the Magic and AdventHealth partnership began back in 1989, they continue to grow their approach in community programming, unparalleled branding and category exclusivity in the area of healthcare while expanding their commitment to the local community.
This past March, Carter was named the 2022-23 Rich & Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award winner for his tremendous impact off the court. Philanthropy has always been a staple of who he is as a person.
“Any opportunity I can to give back to a community, I am going to always take it,” he said. “A situation like this or an event like this, I’m just glad to be a part of it. This is a very small part of what I want to do for this Orlando community.”